Lusaka government says the resurgence of African swine fever (ASF) in Lusaka is due to some farmers hiding their infected pigs during the slaughtering exercise.

Lusaka has again been hit by ASF, and so far 162 pigs have been slaughtered to contain the disease.

Last year Lusaka was hit by an outbreak of the disease, which prompted Government to restrict the movement and processing of pigs and pig products, and subsequently slaughtered over 15,000 pigs.

Government in February this year lifted the pig movement ban in Lusaka after the disease was contained.

However, the disease has broken out again in some parts of the district, and this is likely to impose a negative effect on the development of the pig industry.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Luxon Kazabu has, however, urged farmers to report to Government if they observe any signs of the ASF outbreak on their farms.

“The resurgence of African swine fever in Lusaka is due to some farmers hiding their infected pigs during the slaughtering exercise because most farmers did not want all their pigs to be slaughtered and this has caused the disease to reappear,” he said in an interview in Chilanga recently.

The other challenge faced by farmers is the lack of bio-safety facilities.

Source - http://www.blackseagrain.net/